What's to see between Norfolk and DC

Old Jun 8th, 2005, 01:17 PM
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What's to see between Norfolk and DC

We are driving from DC to Va. Beach with family. We want to stay off the interstate and cross the Chesepeake Bay Bridge. Are there interesting things to see on that route? Or should we interstate it and then drive to some points around VA beach that are worth seeing?
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Old Jun 8th, 2005, 03:11 PM
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do you mean the bridge tunnel ? or the chesapeake bay bridge near annapolis? it looks like both are off a more direct route.

in fact to stay away from the interstate it looks like you have to take both because you need to head to the eastern shore on 50 out of DC. you pass right by annapolis.

if you want to do that there is assateague seashore and chincoteaque wildlife refuge which has the wild horses

all of that is out of your way. you could head down 301 toward the northern neck of va. then take 3 east/south this takes you to the birth place of george washington and robert e lee. nice country side. you then have a choice:

take this to the end to towards whitestone and irvington , very cute towns, but not really kid stuff (don't know what your family make up is....) then cross the mouth of the rappahannock river. following 3 you hook up with 17 that gets you right near yorktown and williamsburg.

17 can take you to 64 and on to va beach.


the next route is quicker as it puts you on 17 sooner and 17 is a faster road than 3.

skip route 3 and take 301 all the way to 17 take 17 south/east and again you hit yorktown and williamsburg. note williams burg is about a half hour out of the way, you take the colonial parkway once you are at yorktown.



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Old Jun 8th, 2005, 03:54 PM
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Justme22's laid out the basic routes. What's the makeup of your family and do you want to do it in 1 day. If in 1 day I would not go on the Eastern Shore / Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, just too long a drive from DC IMO.

As they suggest I would take either Route 5 or Route 210 to Route 301, cross Potomac on the Nice Bridge and either pick Route 3 or 17. Washington's Birthplace is a nice stop and Stratford Hall is a wonderful house. Stratford also has a nice Southern dining room for lunch.

While I love the sites on Route 3, Route 17 is quicker and I love the Middle Penisula, it's less pretensious. Lowry's in Tappahannock is not to be missed. Urbanna is also a nice stop with some places along the water. Seek out Rosewell in Gloucester County and you'll see a ruin worthy of England. Yorktown, where Rt. 17 crosses the York is also worth a stop.

If we knew more about your demographics and timeframe we could help with specifics.
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Old Jun 9th, 2005, 02:52 AM
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Thank you for your responses. There will be 4 kids under 11 and 4 adults. We will already have spent 4 days in DC. We will leave DC early Saturday morning. We have a reservation for one night in VA beach (Saturday). We would like to have some time on the beach Saturday (2 of the kids are from ND, but we'd also like to see some neat sights on the way. How many miles is the middle peninsula drive you are suggesting? Thanks again
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Old Jun 9th, 2005, 04:57 AM
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It takes me 4 1/2 hrs to go from Williamsburg to the ferry in Lewes, DE via the eastern shore. Deduct 45-60 min from that and it will give you a time estimate of the drive from the Norfolk side of the Ches Bay Bridge tunnel all the way up the Eastern shore to Lewes. The drive has some lights and is mostly through small towns and pretty rural areas. You can make a stop in Chincoteague. I think the Ches Bay Bridge tunnel is worth the trip to see it.
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Old Jun 9th, 2005, 05:22 AM
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since you are leaving saturday morning, i would avoid the eastern shore altogether. you will hit major traffic from DC going to Ocean city, Rehobeth, etc.
But the other routes mentioned above are nice. Busch gardens or colonial williamsburg are nice stops along the way. Since you only have one day, you might want to head straight to the beach

In Vb,
- First Landing State Park is a nice area to check out.
- Virginia Marine Science Museum is great for kids.
- The beach is always nice. If you are going to the "strip", I prefer the south end which is not as crowded.
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